(a) To consider the following notice of motion by Councillor Walker
“This council asks the government to bring forward legislation to make school uniform affordable for all. We recognise the importance of uniform and the correct wearing of it within schools as a social equaliser, but feel that at the moment many parents are struggling to buy uniform, especially with the effects of the pandemic and the way parents may have had to buy multiple uniform that hasn’t been worn much before having to be replaced. We also ask that within the school uniform policy that children are not penalised for minor infringements of uniform policy due to parental hardship or availability of the correct uniform for that child.
We would like to thank all our local schools for providing thrift shops or exchange services within the schools and recognise that these services are invaluable.”
(b) To consider the following notice of motion by Councillor Lofthouse
“This council recognises that we are facing a climate emergency and that changes need to be made concerning the construction of new homes. Action needs to be taken to help secure the reaching of the government’s target of net zero by 2050. Furthermore we believe that it is important to apply the most recent National Design Guide for providing a healthy and pleasant place for our residents to live and work. The features in the guide are also climate friendly and will go some way towards the already adopted climate emergency to which this council is committed.
Architect and engineer Maria Smith, who edited the RIBA’s Built for the Environment report whose demands were presented to COP26, warned that the whole planning system was currently weighted against building sustainably.
“We have the knowhow, and every actor in the built environment wants to do a sustainable building – but the whole system is working against us,” said the Buro Happold director.
This council requests that:
(a) The government implements the RIBA’s proposals as submitted to COP 26 without delay. This includes a requirement for the design councils’ guide to better placemaking to have priority as a material consideration for planning decisions. As part of new developments public facilities and infrastructure such as schools and health provisions need to be provided as an integral part of the initial construction.
(b) All government inspectors consider a holistic approach with particular regard to the future consequences of climate change in the planning appeals process.
(c) New developments should include processes which will enable properties to have net zero CO2 emissions. Actions to include rainwater harvesting and storage, SUDS to include natural filtration and recycling for use within the development’s life, electrical power provision to be renewable with at least 50% being produced on site or within the immediate locality and developments to be provided with the infrastructure to be EV charging ready.
(d) Building regulations include actions to make it mandatory to insulate any new homes or additions to existing homes to a level that meets a maximum energy consumption of <= 46kWh/m2/YR, with a tapering reduction for future homes down to <=25kwhr/m2/YR by 2030. (EuroPHitt criteria as an initial minimum).
(e) A training program be instigated for officers and councillors that are likely to be involved in any form of planning and construction decisions or control, for the understanding and consistent application of the National Design Guide.
(f) To consider the adoption of a SPD similar to that adopted by the Derbyshire Dales DC.
(c) To consider the following notice of motion by Councillor Wilkinson
“This Council notes that:
A private members bill concerning protecting our rivers and coastal waters has been going through Parliament. This Council is concerned about the discharge of untreated sewage into rivers and the sea. With our beautiful beaches being one of the main attractions for tourists unless reasonable steps are taken to prevent pollution we are concerned that there will be a real impact on residents and visitors to our area. Water companies admit that in 2020 alone untreated human waste was released directly into our waterways over 400,000 times for a total of 3 million hours. This might well be an underreporting of sewage discharges because the sector is allowed to self-report what it does and, for example, Southern Water has been fined for repeatedly dumping raw sewage into the seas along the south coast while not reporting the true amount to the Environment Agency.
We understand that most, if not all, rivers in England are now polluted beyond legal limits with the Environment Agency rating only 14% of rivers as ‘Good’ in 2019. Government funding to the Environment Agency to monitor river quality, and regulate water companies has dropped 75% since 2010/11. Our local rivers and beaches are threatened by further sewage discharges. The sheer volume of sewage and run-off entering the water means that the UK was ranked just 25th out of 30 EU countries for coastal water quality.
Council resolves to
(a) Support the surfers against sewage campaign for an end to sewage discharge into our bathing waters by 2030.
(b) Ask our M.P. to support all measures to prevent untreated human waste being released into our waterways.
(c) Write to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs expressing our concerns about any discharge of raw sewage into North Devon rivers or our beaches
(d) Ask the Government to make full use of the existing regulatory powers and restore the Environment Agency budgets in order to deliver the necessary oversight.”
(d) To consider the following notice of motion by Councillor Roome
“The UK event to promote small businesses started in 2013 and has grown in popularity year on year. Council notes that Small Business Saturday 2021 is coming up on 4th December. Small Business Saturday has grown into a significant event – with a record £1.1 billion spent with small businesses during last year’s event. As a result of the pandemic more people are now working from home rather than commuting to work and we need to continue to encourage our entrepreneurs and help them to be successful.
Council recognises that this is an excellent opportunity to further promote our many small businesses in North Devon and to celebrate the contribution smaller businesses make to our economy and life in our area.
With around 4,000 businesses in North Devon this Council believes that Small Businesses are the heart and soul of our communities and local high streets. It is only by supporting our local independent businesses that we can also help our local high streets, village shops and tourist industry to thrive.
Council resolves to:
(a) Request that NDC officers work closely with local business organisations and smaller enterprises across North Devon to make them aware of Small Business Saturday and encourage them to be part of it.
(b) Ensure that Small Business Saturday is promoted thoroughly and prominently on the Council’s website, social media channels and other external communications.
(c) Continue with our year round communications campaign to shop locally under the slogan Live, Love, Local which helps to promote local small businesses and encourage residents and visitors to North Devon to buy local produce. Council recognizes that buying local produce reduces the carbon footprint and helps in the fight against climate change.
(d) Look for further ways to increase shopper numbers around Small Business Saturday and in the lead up to Christmas.
(e) Press for a speed up in the provision of superfast broadband in our rural areas.”
Minutes:
(a) To consider the following notice of motion from Councillor Walker.
Councillor Walker presented her notice of motion to Council.
The Chief Executive advised that legislation in relation to school uniforms had received Royal Ascent.
The Leader advised that the Authority had funds available to help those in financial need and the public could be signposted to these by the Members.
It was moved by Councillor Walker and seconded by Councillor Cann that the notice of motion be adopted.
Following discussions, Councillor Walker as mover and Councillor Cann as seconder agreed to take on board the addition “shoes” in the notice of motion.
RESOLVED that the Council asks the Government to bring forward legislation, or statutory guidance, to make school uniform, including shoes, affordable for all. We recognise the importance of uniform and the correct wearing of it within schools as a social equaliser, but feel that at the moment any parents are struggling to buy uniform, especially with the effects of the pandemic and the way parents may have had to buy multiple uniform that hasn’t been worn much before having to be replaced. We also ask that within the school uniform policy that children are not penalised for minor infringements of uniform policy due to parental hardship or the availability of the correct uniform for that child. We would like to thank all our local schools for providing thrift shops or exchange services within the schools and recognise that these services are invaluable.
(b) To consider the following notice of motion from Councillor Lofthouse.
Councillor Lofthouse presented his notice of motion to Council.
It was moved by Councillor Lofthouse and seconded by Councillor Davies that the notice of motion be adopted.
Councillor Worden requested that paragraphs (A)-(D) of the motion be presented to Government and that paragraphs (E)-(F) be forwarded to the Joint Planning Policy Committee for consideration in conjunction with the works on the Joint Local Development Plan.
Councillor Lofthouse, as the mover, and Councillor Davies, as the seconder of the motion, took this amendment on board.
RESOLVED that:
(i) The following points be presented to Government;
(A) The government implements the RIBA’s proposals as submitted to COP 26 without delay. This includes a requirement for the design councils’ guide to better place-making to have priority as a material consideration for planning decisions. As part of new developments public facilities and infrastructure such as schools and health provisions need to be provided as an integral part of the initial construction.
(B) All government inspectors consider a holistic approach with particular regard to the future consequences of climate change in the planning appeals process.
(C) New developments should include processes which will enable properties to have net zero CO2 emissions. Actions to include rainwater harvesting and storage, SUDS to include natural filtration and recycling for use within the development’s life, electrical power provision to be renewable with at least 50% being produced on site or within the immediate locality and developments to be provided with the infrastructure to be EV charging ready.
(D) Building regulations include actions to make it mandatory to insulate any new homes or additions to existing homes to a level that meets a maximum energy consumption of <= 46kWh/m2/YR, with a tapering reduction for future homes down to <=25kwhr/m2/YR by 2030. (EuroPHitt criteria as an initial minimum).
(ii) That the following be presented to the Joint Planning Policy Committee for consideration in conjunction with the Joint Local Plan:
(A) A training programme be instigated for officers and councillors that are likely to be involved in any form of planning and construction decisions or control, for the understanding and consistent application of the National Design Guide.
(B) To consider the adoption of a Supplementary Planning Document similar to that adopted by the Derbyshire Dales District Council. https://www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/your-council/news-andpublications/latest-news/3382-climate-change-supplementary-planningdocument-adopted .”
(c) To consider the following notice of motion from Councillor Wilkinson.
Councillor Wilkinson presented his notice of motion to Council.
It was moved by Councillor Wilkinson and seconded by Councillor Bushell that the notice of motion be adopted.
The Chief Executive recommended that an addition be included in that a representation be made to South West Water to request their five-year plan to reduce sewerage discharge issues.
Councillor Wilkinson, as the mover, and Councillor Bushell, as the seconder of the motion, took this amendment on board.
RESOLVED that the Council;
(i) Support the surfers against sewage campaign for an end to sewage discharge into our bathing waters by 2030.
(ii)Ask our M.P. to support all measures to prevent untreated human waste being released into our waterways.
(iii)Write to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs expressing our concerns about any discharge of raw sewage into North Devon rivers or our beaches
(iv) Ask the Government to make full use of the existing regulatory powers and restore the Environment Agency budgets in order to deliver the necessary oversight.
(v) Write to South West Water to request their five-year plan to reduce sewerage discharge issues.
Councillor Lofthouse left the meeting.
(d) To consider the following notice of motion from Councillor Roome.
Councillor Roome presented his notice of motion to Council.
It was moved by Councillor Roome and seconded by Councillor Biederman that it be adopted with the amendment to paragraph (c) of the motion to include “(or with an amended slogan in future if required)”following the words “Live, Love Local”.
RESOLVED that
(i)Request that NDC officers work closely with local business organisations and smaller enterprises across North Devon to make them aware of Small Business Saturday and encourage them to be part of it.
(ii) Ensure that Small Business Saturday is promoted thoroughly and prominently on the Council’s website, social media channels and other external communications.
(iii) Continue with our year round communications campaign to shop locally under the slogan Live, Love, Local (or with an amended slogan in future if required) which helps to promote local small businesses and encourage residents and visitors to North Devon to buy local produce. Council recognises that buying local produce reduces the carbon footprint and helps in the fight against climate change.
(iv) Look for further ways to increase shopper numbers around Small Business Saturday and in the lead up to Christmas.
(v) Press for a speed up in the provision of superfast broadband in our rural areas.